Coronavirus

Administrative and clinical leadership from St. Luke’s Eastern Oregon Medical Associates and Saint Alphonsus-Baker City have established a curbside evaluation site for patients who are concerned they may have COVID-19. Read more

SALEM (AP) — Facing an expected closure through the end of the academic year, schools across Oregon have been told to begin distance learning on April 13. Some schools are already handing out smart tablets and Wi-Fi devices to students. Read more

A new Facebook page is helping residents in eastern Baker County’s Panhandle offer their assistance for tasks such as picking up groceries, or seeking aid, during the coronavirus crisis. Read more

Baker City Manager Fred Warner Jr. said the city hasn’t suspended its policy of shutting off water to residents who are at least 60 days behind in paying their bill, but he said his goal is to avoid turning off water to anyone during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

The Forest Service and BLM have closed developed recreation areas in Baker County and elsewhere in Northeastern Oregon, including campgrounds, picnic areas, rental cabins and boat ramps, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Baker School District Superintendent Mark Witty has taken to Facebook to communicate with families during the statewide school closures implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Starting Sunday, March 29, the Baker County Library District will take a two-week pause in allowing people to check out items through the drive-up window, which had been open. Read more

Starting Sunday, March 29, the Baker County Library District will take a two-week pause in allowing people to check out items through the drive-up window, which had been open. Read more

The Baker School Board, which was scheduled to meet in special session today to talk about graduation requirements, has postponed the meeting until March 31 because information from the Oregon Department of Education won’t be available in time. Read more

Joint statement from Saint Alphonsus-Baker City and St. Luke’s Eastern Oregon Medical Associates: Read more

Baker City Hall, 1655 First St., is closed to the public. City employees will continue to work unless they feel ill, Mayor Loran Joseph said Monday afternoon. Read more

One word keeps coming up when Ginger Savage talks about Crossroads Carnegie Art Center: Read more

SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown on Monday directed most Oregonians to stay home except for getting groceries, going to work or handling important activities that cannot wait. Read more

The Powder Valley halibut feed will not happen this year due to concerns about the coronavirus. Read more

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is working on a multi-pronged mandate to slow the spread of coronavirus, but she is not expected to issue the full-fledged “stay-at-home” order that Portland-area officials want. Read more

Sheriff Travis Ash has implemented changes in the way prisoners are lodged at the Baker County Jail because of the coronavirus pandemic taking place throughout the state and the nation. Read more

For a couple of hours Wednesday evening, during a week of unprecedented upheavals for the restaurant and bar industry, Tyler Brown was again doing what he loves to do. Read more

Mark Witty did something Thursday that he hadn’t done for the past three weeks. Read more

The Baker City Council has canceled its March 24 meeting due to coronavirus concerns. City Manager Fred Warner Jr. said there was no pressing business on the agenda. A pre-budget meeting set for March 31 has also been canceled. Planning commission meetings related to a development code updat… Read more

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) will move all of its spring term courses into a remote format based on the executive order issued late Wednesday by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Read more

The BLM has temporarily closed the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City based on guidance from the CDC and state and local public health authorities. Read more

LA GRANDE — The Center for Human Development in L Grande confirmed Thursday afternoon the first case of COVID-19 in Union County. Read more

Even before Gov. Kate Brown’s Tuesday announcement extending public school closures through April 28, the Baker School District had decided to withdraw its $7.5 million school bond measure from the May 19 ballot. Read more

Michelle Owen is worried about what Baker City residents might be tossing into their toilets. Read more

The Baker County Commission on Wednesday approved a local emergency declaration due to the coronavirus. Read more

Per Governor Brown’s announcement yesterday regarding statewide school closures, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) has extended the suspension of interscholastic practices and contests for sports and activities for all member schools through April 28. Read more

Due to the uncertainties related to coronavirus, Baker County is delaying the opening of Hewitt and Holcomb Parks, on Brownlee Reservoir about three miles east of Richland, until May 1, barring any more federal or state restrictions. The closure expansions are contributing to the inability t… Read more

Baker County Library closes all locations, but continues take-out services: Read more

Running a small business can be a challenge in the most normal of times. Read more

Ken Krohn, president of the Baker City Rotary Club, announced today that the annual Easter egg hunt, set for April 11 at Geiser-Pollman Park, has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Read more

The Baker School District 5J Board of Directors is postponing its request for a $7.5 million bond measure in the May election and will resubmit the measure at a later date. Read more

Baker County Commissioners met in a special session Monday afternoon to discuss the county’s efforts to help curb the possible effects of coronavirus on county residents and the local economy. Read more

The Baker County YMCA announced today that based on new state and federal guidelines related to the coronavirus, the organization is closing all YMCA locations and programs starting Tuesday.  Read more

It’s what we don’t know about coronavirus -- what we can’t yet know -- that dictates our response to the early stages of the pandemic. Read more

This list will be updated as new information becomes available: Read more

The Baker County Board of Commissioners will have a special meeting Monday at 2 p.m. to discuss the coronavirus. The meeting will be at the Courthouse, 1995 Third St. Read more

SALEM – Turning to a “last resort” she hoped to avoid, Gov. Kate Brown Thursday night ordered all Oregon schools closed for at least two weeks to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, affecting 583,000 students from Portland to Ashland, from Coos Bay to Nyssa. Read more

The Baker girls basketball team won't defend its Class 4A state championship this week at Forest Grove, as the Oregon School Activities Association announced today that it is canceling remaining winter sports championships due to concerns about the coronavirus. Read more

The Baker girls basketball team will try to win their second straight state title without their usual contingent of Bulldog supporters in the stands at Forest Grove High School. Read more

PENDLETON — Amidst reports from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation about anti-tribal discrimination, the Red Lion Hotel in Pendleton is responding to the controversy. Read more

PORTLAND — The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced four new presumptive case of the novel coronavirus today, bringing the state’s total to 19. Read more

Baker County commissioners on Wednesday ratified a resolution opposing bills in the Oregon Legislature designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a carbon cap and trade taxation system. Read more

HOSPITAL Read more

WESTON — An adult Oregon resident from Umatilla County is the state's third presumptive positive case of COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority confirmed Monday morning. Read more